This week in France – Wood you?

Wood you?Spurred by concerns over climate change and the negative impacts of concrete manufacturing, architects and developers in France are increasingly turning to wood for their office towers and apartment complexes. The city of Bordeaux has pledged to build 270,000 square feet of wooden spaces per year for the next 15 years.

Humanitarian hearts
The winter treve truce – an annual ban on evictions in France – has come into force and will last until March 31 next year. It is meant as a humanitarian measure, to ensure that people do not end up homeless in the coldest season. Every year in France, between 110,000 and 115,000 eviction proceedings begin when the treve ends.

Family tragedy
The bodies of five people, believed to be a couple and their three children were found on a pig farm in the village of Nouvion et Catillon, north eastern France on Tuesday. All five were killed by gun shots. Investigators say they believe a “family tragedy” (drame familial) is the likely cause of the deaths.

Unholy row
France’s highest court has demanded that a cross overhanging a statue of former Pope John Paul II be removed from a square in a Breton town, provoking anger among those who believe France’s Catholic heritage is being destroyed. The town of Ploermel in the north-western region of Brittany now has six months to remove the cross.